Coasting device



H. J. FERRIS COASTING DEVICE March 30 1926.

Filed Feb. 1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 irddlllllllllgllllll:rial/1!! 1/!!! jiveni fli March 30 1926.

H. J. FERRIS COASTING DEVICE F iled Feb. 1. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jza'enzf Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HOWARD J'. IEBRIS,

OI HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HUNT, HELM, FERRIS & COMPANY, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

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Application filed. February 1, 1924. serial No. 689,930.

Be it known that of Illinois, Improvement in This invention relates .To all whom it may concern I, HOWARD J Farms, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Har- Henry and State to coasting devices and the like, and is particularly adapted to be used for coasting on snow covered slopes or on level ground. It is fully described in the following specificatio accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan Figure 2 Figures the lines 3 and 4, respectively,

Figure 5 is atop plan form. of the device;

Fig

11 and shown in the in which vlew of the device;

is a side elevation of the same; 3 and 4 are enlarged sect10ns on of Figure 1; view of a modified ure 6 is a side elevation of thesame;

Figure 7 is a partial bottom view of the coasting device; and

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8 of Fig- The invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a relatively long,

sheet metal member 10 form a coaster.

of substantial width curved upwardly at 11 at its forward end to Ears 12 are riveted to the front end of this member and have a tween them by means tongue or handle 15 pin 13 secured beof cotter pins 14. has lugs 16 secured thereon at its forward end, these lugs being hingedly mounted on the pin 13 so that the tongue 15 is free to swing in a vertical plane which passes substantially through the middle of the member 10. cross-bar 17 is secured end of the tongue.

Downwardly projecting OI convenience, a

in the outer or free ribs or corrugations 18 are preferably formed in the sides of the sheet metal sist materially in member 10 and these asholding the coasting device in a true course, particularly when pass- 1 mg over rough ground.

- A board 19 is secured the member 10 as by to the rear end of rubber, is secured of tacks 22.

This board is preferably set forward of the rear end of the member 10 so as to leave a space 23 which will receive the heels of the operator, thereby permi tting them to fall just back of the real-end of the board 19 which will greatly assist him in holding his position on the coaster.

In the operation of coasting on a hill, the user usually stands with both feet on the rear of the board 19, the heels falling upon the space 23 back of the end of the board. while he grasps the cross-bar 17, one hand being on each side of the tongue 15. With the device headed in the direction he desires to go, he. throws his weight somewhat backward, pulling up slightly on the tongue 15. If he desires to turn the coaster to the right, he leans to the right, at the same time carrying the cross-bar 17 toward the right, thereby warping the flexible member 10. \Vhile no very sharp turns can be made in this way, this operation will materially assist the user to turn the coaster so as to follow a desired course.

When used on the level, the operator usually stands with his right foot well over the right side of the board 19, the heel, as before, resting on the end 23, thereby leaving his left foot free to rest upon the ground and push him along in somewhat the same way as is now done with a wheeled coaster.

Figures 5 to 8 show a modified form of coaster made of wood, having a thin, flexible, wood runner 24 curved upwardly at its forward-end 25 and havin cleats 26 between which is secured a pin 21 on the upper forward end of the device. A tongue 28 is hingedly secured on this pin and the whole is o erated in substantially the same way as tie coaster shown in Figures 1 to 4. A roughened or corrugated mat 25 is secured by means of tacks 22 to the upper surface of the wood runner 24 which materially assists in keeping the feet of the user from slipping,

While I have shown and described but two embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangementmay be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention as indicated in the appended claims.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A coasting device comprising a relatively thin, flexible and warpable member having a flat under side adapted to contact with the surface over which it travels and terminating in an upwardly curved front end, and a tongue attached to said member at approximately the base of such curved portion and midway of the width of said member, whereby said member may be transversely warped by the rider for an. appreciable distance to the rear of the point of connection between the tongue and Warpable member, to guide it in the desired direction.

2. A coasting device comprising a rela tively thin. flexible and warpable member having a flat. under side adapted to contact with the surface over which it travels and terminating in end, and a tongue attached to said member at approximately the base of such curved portion and midway of the width of said inember whereby. said member may be transversely warped by the rider for an appreciable, distance to the rear of the point of con-- nection between the tongue and wa rpable "member to guide it in the desired direction, and a foot-receiving surface adjacent to the rear end of said member on which the rider stands, said foot-receiring, surface beina o'l'osetothe ground surface whereby to permit the rider to step on and off the same. without loss of balance. a

3. A coasting device comprising a relaan upwardly curved front tively thin, flexible and warpable member having a flat under side adapted to contact with the surface over which it travels and terminating in' an upwardly curved front end, and a tongue attached to said member at approximately the base of such curved portion'and midway of the'width of said member. wherebysaid member may be transversely warped by the rider for an appreciable distance to the rear of the point of connection between the tongue and warp-able member to guide it in the desired direction, and a longitudinal rib upon each side of the bottom of said member, formed by pressing downwardly the material of such member adjacent its edges. I

4. A coasting device comprising an elongated, flat, flexible, resilient toboggan memlTOI having an up-curved front end and having near its lateral edges depressed ribs affording runners, a tongue pivotally connected with the medial portion of said upcurved front end and adapted to warp said resilient member, and a foot-board disposed on the upper surface of the rear portion of said resilientmember and secured thereto and serving as a stiffening member for the rear portion of the device. 1

' HOWARD J. FERRIS. 

